LENT 2 "Foxes, Hens and Chickens"

Scripture Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Psalm 27, Luke 13:31-35
Presented by Bridgehampton Presbyterian Confirmation Class, NY, March 13, 2022

 Over the last few months our confirmands, Avery McCleland, Lucas Centalonza, and Paul Rosel
 have been meeting with their peers in Southampton Presbyterian Church and have learnt about some basics of the Christian faith

Then, this year, have been involved in a couple of mission projects, visiting the local Food pantry and Thrift store, as well as preparing to lead this worship service.

We have been looking together at the passage set by the Lectionary for this Sunday, Luke 13:31-35. We decided to present it to you in three ways... firstly a short drama imagining a reporter asking an onlooker about the events of that day, secondly an interview with a theologian about some of the implications of the words Jesus spoke, and thirdly a reflection on each of the three creatures that the passage references, Foxes, Hens and Chickens.

 I'll conclude with a few words of my own.

So now… over to our reporters in Jerusalem.

Skit 1 – presented by Lucas Centalonza,, and Paul Rosel
(A review of the days events.)

Thank you for that report. But what does it all mean?
Avery is asking an eminent theologian some questions.

Skit 2 - presented by Avery McCleland and Rev Adrian Pratt
(The theological questions raised by Jesus' words. What did he mean when he talked about a third day? Why Jerusalem? Why did he compare God to a mother Hen?)

Thanks for that wonderful insight.
I mean it’s all very well knowing what happened in the past.
But are there lessons we can learn from this passage for our lives today?

Don’t Be a Fox like Herod. (Paul Rosel)

Foxes can be quite cute creatures. They can be loyal, protecting of their young and highly sociable.  Unless you happen to be their prey. So, if you are a hen or a chicken… they are not so cute.

Herod was a King who was fearful for his position. And when people are afraid, they can become aggressive. The only reason he was King in the first place was because he had sold out his nation to the Roman oppressors. The only way he had stayed King was through intimidation and violence, even towards his own family. If you didn’t get with his program, you were a threat.

So, when Jesus calls Herod a Fox he was accusing him of having become a person who was compromised, sly, untrustworthy, and self-centered.

He’s also warning people that to side with Herod meant being on the wrong side! The religious leaders, who like Herod were fearful for their position in society, didn’t have a problem with Herod. As long as he was in power, they kept their power. So, they didn’t mind accepting Herod’s invitation to confront Jesus. They didn’t like Him either. He was a threat to their power.

But Jesus wasn’t afraid of Pharisees. And Jesus wasn’t afraid of Herod. Called him a fox.
And not in a good way.

So don’t ever be like Herod. Living in fear. Ready to compromise what you believe , to get what you want. Treating people like pieces in a chess game… easily disposable and only useful when they serve your purposes.

Jesus came to set people free. And to teach us how to love and serve each other.

Do be like a Hen (Avery McCleland)

Jesus uses a mother hen as a picture of how we should act towards to each other. We should care for each other, like a hen cares for her chickens. Ever watched a hen with chickens? First, she nurtures them. From the egg onwards. They follow her around the farmyard, watching everything she does.

She teaches them how to feed themselves. They learn about life’s pecking order! They learn how to follow. When they fall, she gently nudges them in the right direction. And when they are threatened, she will put her own life at risk to protect them. If a fox appears on the scene, she will wrap her wings around them and shelter them from harm.

“Greater love has no person” said Jesus, “Then laying down their life for their friends.”

And Jesus teaches us to be people who care, nurture, and help each other. Who lift each other up when one of us falls down. Who protect the most vulnerable and value the lives of those committed to our care. In fact, Jesus uses the mother hen as a picture of God.

Jesus suggests that God would love to wrap God’s loving wings around us. That God wants to shelter us, protect us, and love us. But then he adds that we are like the people of Jerusalem.
We just don’t seem to want God’s help. We reject God’s offer of assistance and go our own way.

Learn from the Chickens  (Lucas Centalonza)

In this biblical passage the group we are most like are the chickens. Of course… nobody likes to be called ‘chicken.’ It has become a phrase associated with cowardice and weakness. Jesus doesn’t want us to be afraid and running scared.

But God does invite us to open our lives to the influence of God’s love. And that means being prepared to be vulnerable. Being opened to being led. To allow our selves to be cared for. To admit that there are times when we can’t help ourselves. To apply our selves to learning God’s ways.

That is never easy. We tend to want to be foxes rather than chickens. We like our independence.
We like to think we are experts in our own destiny. Every young chicken has the capacity to grow into an amazing nurturing hen or proud rooster! Just as long as they allow themselves to be nurtured and follow the right directions. Every person has the capacity to become the wonderful human being God designed them to be.

God has given us the example of Jesus to follow. God has given us the Scriptures to guide us.
God has given us the Church as a place to nurture our faith. God promises us the living presence of Jesus to walk with us through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Nothing wrong in being a chicken. So long as you allow God, like a mother hen, to gather you under those wings of love.

Conclusions (Rev. Adrian Pratt)

I think we are getting the picture.
God is a God who longs to surround our lives with the love we find in Jesus.
A God who wants us to know, even in these crazy times, that God is still in control.
A God who wants the best for us and really loves us.

My prayer for our confirmands and for all of us is that we will walk together this road of discipleship… not just in lent, not just as we approach confirmation, but every day of our lives.

To God be all glory. Amen.

Thanks to our confirmation class of 2022:
Avery McCleland, Lucas Centalonza, and Paul Rosel
Their Service of confirmation takes place Sunday, March 27, 2022.